Apparatus for marking materials



Jan. 17, 1928.

P. s. SHOAFF APPARATUS FOR MARKING MATERIALS 2 Sheets-Shet l Filed April 17. 1926 tufo: nu.,

Jan. 17, 1928.

1,656,872 P. s. sHoAFF APPARATUS FOR MARKING MATERIALS Filed April 17. 192e 2 sheets-sheet 2 (u I grwndw L55 l ,Dwi 672/006/- D 35% MEO 47M attorney Patented Jan. 17, 1928.

UNITED STATES PATENT orties.

AL S. SHOAFF, OF AKRON, OHIO, ASSIGNOR TO THE GGODYEAR TIREEL E'BBEB.

` COMPANY, OF AKRON, OHIO, A COROBATION OF ORIG.

Arriiiiiirus ren Marraine MATERIALS..

i nppiicauon ined pin i7, i926. j seriai it. maeva Myf invention relates to a method of anda machine for handling sheet materials of va-` rious size or quality and it is particularly dirlected to a method of identifying their exact classes.

One object of my invention is to facilitate the manipulation of assembly parts in an article of manufacture.

Another object of the invention is to provide means for identifying various classes of assembly unit-s.

More specifically, this invention affords a flexible means yfor distinguishing rubberized fabrics which are to be used in 2building various articles of manufacture, and provides a marking medium to be employed in sodistinguishingtlie articles.

. In the rubber industry, particularly in the manufacture of tires, it is necessary to handle a large number of sizes and grades of niau terials. Thus, each tire may embody several types of fabrics, each of which is iinpregnated with a rubber stock which has characteristic compounding ingredients. It is necessary, during the assembling-of these units, to quickly, yet accurately, distinguish the various fabrics and compounds.

In the past this has been accomplished by carefully separating each class of goods. However, wherel several sizes and qualities of tires are being continuously manufactured, it becomes increasingly inconvenient to practice this method efficiently.

Another method, which has been emloyed, is to weave a tinted cord into the fabric and, by noting its particularcolor, the class of the article is readily ascertainable. This method, however, requires a l'Cfreat deal of time to locate the key cord before ascertaining its color. Moreover, it necessitates a large stock of fabric having the necessary colors and, in addition, does not @provide for the use of the various compounda ing ingredients which maybe applied to the same grade of fabric.

My inventionconsists generally in passing calendered fabric over spaced discs which have been wetted with a colored marking fluid. With the aid of this mark, I am able to readily distinguish both the fabric and the compound employed thereon. It is apparent that this method provides for three degrees of freedom; namely, the color or combinationk of colors, the distances between the marking rollers and the desigiiof the mark, each of which may be easily varied by changing the color of the marking medium and 'changing or respacing the distances between the marking discs.

For a better understanding of my invention reference may be made to the accompanyiiig drawings, in which: i

Fig. l is a front elevation of a double unit, portions being broken away for clearness, showing a wetting roll withina iiuid con-y tainer;

Fig. 2 is a side elevation of a double unit showing opposite ends, one unit being in removed and the other in engaged position; and

Fig. Bis a detail view, on a larger scale, of a journalfor gear train shown.

In vpractising my invention l employ a machine consisting of a frame provided with suitable upright end members l and a horizontal brace 2 adapted to hold the members in position. `lli/lounted in the end members are a` plurality of uprightv guides 3, upon which supporting members 4C of a marking mechanism 411 are slidably mounted.

In order to maintain the `supporting niembers of the marking mechanism in operative cr vinoperative position, a counter-weight mechanism has been provided. Such mechanism consists vof a horizontally disposed sha-ft 6 which is j ouriialed in the frame, and is provided at one end vwith a bell crank lever 7 rigidly secured thereto at the outside of the frame members l. Also a plurality of bifurcated arms 8 are spaced fiointlie ends (of, and are rigidly secured to, the sha-ft 6 inside the frame members l. One arm of the lever supports an adjustable counterweight 9 and the other arm l0 thereof may be employed for the manual manipulation of the device. The adjustment of the counter Weight 9 is effected by merely sliding it in either direction along the arm to which it is loosely secured, or a set screw 9 or other similar device is adapted to secure theweight in adjusted position. The bifurcated ends of the arms 8 are each prewided with a roller` l2, .rotatably mounted within the fork and adapted to engage the base of the supported. The force from the lever moment is transmitted through the shaft 6 to the arms and is thus directed to oppose the weight of the marking device. It is to be noted that the ist The marlrino means include a Jluralit f of discs 29, adapted to carry a suitable marking fluid upon their peripheries, and aiiiuid con-V tainer '17. rlhe marking means are supported by a plurality of pins l5 rigidlyconnect ed to the ends of the container and resting in grooves 1G especially provided therefor in the vertically slidable supporting members. 4.- i j The container' is preferablyof semi-cir cular metallic construction and it should have a length substantially equal to the Width of the fabric. Near the bottom thereof a drain tap 18 is provided, ,which may be employed to maintain the fluid at substan tially a constant level. Brackets 19 are riveted to the ends of thecontainer 17 and, as shown in Figure 3, they constitute supports for the lower sections of bearings 20 and bosses 2l. The upper collar sections of the respective journal bearings 20, differ in that the one, 2st, made an integral part of a vertically disposed journal support 22 fora gear tram 23 composed of gears 23a and 23bl journaled upon stu-dV shafts 23C and 23d, respectively securedto the supports 22. Since, however, only one gear train is essential for each marking unit the other collar section 26 is similar to the section 24, but is Without provision for the gear train support 22. Both are fitted with bosses 2l through Which bolts 3l pass vertically upward to support bearing sections 25 similar to those shown at 2G. The bolt is providedwith nuts 31 on the outer sides of the bosses in order to hold the sections in position.

"lhe upper bearings 25 journal a horizontal shaft 27 keyed at one end-to a gear 28 which forms partof the train 23. A plurality of discs 29 are each rigidly mounted on the shaft 27 by means of a set screw 30. The discs serve to marl; fabric as it passes tangent to their peripheries and beneath an idler roller 29 that is mounted upon brackets Bel secured upon the end members.` The rotary motion imparted to the discs by rolling contact with the fabric is transmitted through thegear train to a wetting roller 32, having oppositely disposed bearing portions 32 rotatably7 mounted in the bearings20, one of the bearing portions being rigidly connected to the bottoni gear 33.

It should be noted, of course, that the distance between the* discs may be varied to meet the demands of the process by merely loosening the set screws 30 and sliding the discs alongthe shafts .27 It should also observed that a plurality of colored fluids may be employed to give a greater degree of flexibility. For example in Fig. '2 it is possible to provide the tivo fluid containers with different coloring mediums; it is also possible to operate the umts selectively or simultaneously.

By partially submergmg the `netting roller in the marking fluid Within the container, a

sufficient amount thereof adheres to the periphery of the roller to Wet the periphery of the discs.

While the character of the marking fluid is not important, it is desirable that it consist of such ingredients as are not aptto cake or solidify. I have found that a suit-` able Whitt-)printing fluid may be made by mixing lithopone with latex, which has been made slightly alkaline. The desired con-` sistency may be producedby adding a `pine oil dispersion of rubber to which some gum arabic and water has been added.` A red marking fluid `may likewise be obtained by substituting red oxide for lithopone. In each case, the components are thoroughly mixed, preferably in al paint mill of any regular construction. fit is to bc noted that the marking fluid `consists preferably of a pigmenulatei; and a material "which will give the fluid a proper consistency. It is desirable for the fluid to possess certain properties as, for example, chemical inertness and nonwolatility. lfn addition it must gire a tacky surface when dry in order that fabric will adhere thereto.

lt will be` apparent to anyone skilled in the art that by practising my invention itis possible to easily distinguish the many grades of fabric conunonly utilized in the manufacture of tires. Moreover, this is accomplished Without.multiplying the steps of manufacture inasmuch as the device may be installed in any convenient juxtaposed posi-` tion to calendering equipment.

Although I have illustrated and described but a single device embodying my invention, it is evident that the principle thereof may be subjected to wide 'variations without de parting from the scope thereof, and I desire, therefore, that only such limitations Shall be imposed as are in accord with the ap pended claims. i i

llVhat I` claim is: i

l. A machine for marking yrubberized fabric comprising a supporting frame adapted to be positioned adjacent a moving sheet of fabric, means mounted in the frame for applying an identifying mark to the fabric, means associated with the frame for moving the marking means into contact with the sheet, and means associated with the marking means for supplying a marking' fluid thereto.` l f 2. A machine for marking rubberized fab` ric comprising a frame `adapted to be mounted adjacent the face of a traveling sheet of fabric, marking` discs rotatably mounted Within the frame, means associated with the marking discs to move the latter into and out of Contact With the fabric, and a roller mounted in the frame for applyingmarking fluid to the discs.

3. A machine for marking rubberized fabric comprising a frame adapted to be mounted adjacent the face of a traveling sheet of fabric, supporting members mount ed Within the frame, a horizontal shaft car-` ried by the supporting members, marking discs axially adjustable upon the shaft', means for supplying marking fluid to the discs and means for moving the supporting members toward and awayfrom the fabric to cause the discs to engage or disengage the latter. y

il. A marking device comprising a frame adapted to be mounted beneath atraveling sheet of fabric, a vertically adjustable marking mechanism slidably mounted with respect to the frame, means for elevating the mechanism to cause it to contact With a sheet of material including a horizontal shaft carrying rigidly mounted arms supporting the mechanism and a bell crank lever connected to the shaft and provided with a counter-Weight for balancing the Weight of the marking mechanism. y

5. A ply marking device comprising l a supporting frame, a marking disc mounted for radial displacement in said frame, a counter Weighted mechanism forv moving said disc, and a wetting roll mounted upon means maintaining it in contact with the disc at all times fortransferring marking fluid thereto.

6.. A ply marking device including a rigid frame provided With a counter-Weighted elevating mechanism, a plurality of ply marking discs and' a fluid container carried by the mechanism, and a wetting roller mounted in the container and engaging the discs.

7. A ply marking device comprisingV a frame, marking mechanism so positioned in the frame as to contact with a ply adjacent thereto, a lever mechanism for elevating the marking mechanism including ar shaft journaled in the frame having a plurality of arms provided with rollers for Supporting the marking mechanism and a second arm` provided with a Weight for balancing the Weight of the marking mechanism.

8. A ply marking device comprising a frame adapted to be mounted beneath a traveling sheet of fabric, an elevating mechanism comprising a shaft journalled in the frame, arms rigidly secured to the shaft, rollers `rotatably mounted upon the arms, a balancing lever rigidly secured to the shaft, a counter-Weight mounted upon the arms and a marking mechanism supported upon the rollers and adapted to be moved by the latter into and out of contact with' the fabric. v

In Witness whereof, I have hereunto signed my name.

PAUL S. SHOAFF. 

